Bill > HB0115

This bill, known as the Medical Ethics Defense Act, creates comprehensive protections for healthcare providers, institutions, and payers to refuse participation in or payment for healthcare services that conflict with their conscience, which is broadly defined to include ethical, moral, and religious beliefs. The bill establishes that healthcare providers, institutions, and payers have the right to decline involvement in specific healthcare services that violate their conscience, while maintaining obligations to provide emergency medical treatment and other necessary care. Religious healthcare organizations are given additional latitude to make employment and operational decisions consistent with their religious beliefs, and the bill specifically protects healthcare workers from being compelled to participate in abortions without their explicit written consent. The legislation prohibits discrimination against healthcare providers who exercise their conscience rights, protects whistleblowers who report potential violations, and prevents licensing boards from taking adverse actions against providers for protected speech. Healthcare institutions must develop internal policies allowing providers to refuse participation in services that conflict with their conscience, and healthcare payers must annually disclose services they will not cover based on conscience considerations. The bill provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for those exercising conscience rights and allows parties to seek civil remedies for violations. The act will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to healthcare services and payment obligations from that date forward.

https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0115